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WASHINGTON – Several hundred Joe Biden supporters rallied near the White House Tuesday night, creating a festive atmosphere as bands played, people danced, and some said they were wary that Democrats could regain the presidency.
But behind the celebrations, many also expressed concern that President Donald Trump may try to “steal the election” by declaring victory early or through biased court proceedings if the outcome is lost.
Crowds converged on two streets recently named Black Lives Matter (BLM) Plaza by the mayor of Washington, which was the focal point of opposition to Trump during the racial justice protests during the summer.
READ: US Election Day Begins When Voters Decide on Trump’s Fate
Others filled a nearby park, McPherson Square, after the traditional area for such gatherings, Lafayette Square, was closed off by a perimeter fence that was erected a few weeks ago.
A new barricade that cannot be climbed has also been erected within the perimeter, and dozens of policemen were watching, but there were no signs of tension.
“I’m here to celebrate, hopefully, the president’s departure from here, an early celebration,” Malik Williams, a 27-year-old school counselor from Maryland, told AFP.
Williams, who participated in the BLM protests, said he was encouraged by the polls and early voting records, adding: “I think it will all work out.”
READ: US votes on Trump’s fate under threat of electoral turmoil
“Honestly, I am not worried at all, I think he is going to lose and I think it will be a historic defeat,” he added.
Her optimism was shared by Charlotte Griffin, a 22-year-old college student who had traveled from upstate New York with friends but voted in Florida, and said she believed more people would back Biden than Hillary Clinton in 2016.
But he added: “I think Trump tonight will declare victory and I think his supporters will join him and that worries me.”
